As people age, they near their retirement, and having suitable savings for retirement could make life somewhat more accessible, at least from a financial perspective. Waiting too long to establish a retirement nest egg could prove disastrous.
Those who plan and put money away for their golden years might have less to worry about when they age, and an individual retirement account could be the right investment vehicle to place the funds.
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How an Individual Retirement Account Works
An individual retirement account (IRA) is a retirement savings vehicle that provides tax benefits. With a traditional IRA, someone may open an account with a brokerage service and put the money in an IRA fund. The money deposited into the IRA account is tax-deductible, reducing the amount of taxable income on the account holder’s tax return. Paying less tax serves as an incentive to open an IRA while also allowing the person to save money.
The IRA’s growth remains tax-deferred until the account holder withdraws the funds when they reach the allowable age threshold, which is age 59½. Withdrawals before reaching the age threshold receive a 10% penalty. According to the professionals at SoFi, “You can open multiple IRA accounts. Please note the IRS contribution limits still apply across all accounts and are not limits per account.”
Other Types of IRA Accounts
A traditional IRA is not the only account available to those hoping to put money away. Two other options are the Roth IRA and the Rollover IRA. A Roth IRA allows someone to contribute funds they already paid taxes on, hoping to achieve tax-free growth. Rollover IRAs involve moving money from a qualified retirement plan to a traditional IRA.
Why an IRA and Retirement Savings Help
Working past retirement age is common, but there are potential limits. When someone grows older, they may not be able to work a full-time job. Working a physically taxing job might be impossible, and there could come a time when the person is too old to work.
Social security and pension deposits help, but they only provide so much money. Access to IRA funds and other savings may reduce financial burdens when someone exits the workforce. That’s a reason why many plan on investing in an IRA.
An IRA as a Supplement to Retirement Income
An individual retirement account might not reflect all the money someone has saved. Perhaps the person receives payments from a dividend fund and, perhaps, receives some support from family members.
The total amount of money from a pension, family gifts, and other investments might not be enough to meet annual expenses, but yearly IRA withdrawal could provide supplementary financial support to deal with things.
An IRA May Continue to Grow
A publicly traded IRA fund could continue to experience growth. The share price may increase if the market does well, and reinvested capital gains, dividends, and interest may add to the remaining post-withdrawal balances.
Remember, it is permissible to withdraw only the minimum amount and let the balance mature. That said, no guarantees exist. The market could do poorly, and the IRA’s value may decline.
An IRA stands as a retirement-based investment vehicle. The tax benefits and potential investment growth make IRAs popular.
